Giving Hope to the Kids

Yesterday, I had the first pleasure of presenting Bravery Project to the Black Canyon School, which is really a euphemism because it's a detention center/school/church/living grounds for girls between 13-17 years of age.


It was also their first because they never hosted a Take Back the Night (TBTN) event before. TBTN for those who don't know is a protest on violence against women that started back in England during the 1800's. The news would report rape, murder, and violence on women after dark on a regular basis. Well, it pissed them off and they decided to join together in street marches, which has now become a world wide phenomenom.

On a local level, Black Canyon included several organizations to come and present to the girls information such as definitions on domestic violence, date rape, how to get help, etc. The girls were smart. Very few myths were supported in this group, which means that awareness is improving. There were, however, individuals who believe that "men just can't control themselves" or "he loves me" type thoughts that keep the cycle going.

Bravery Project was last and showed them the portraits and read the stories of survivors. I tried to focus on the recovery of hardship and teach them that everyone has been a victim of something in life and there is no shame in that. Only lessons that we apply and use to help ourselves and others. I explained the portrait process and how each individual shares a message that teaches and inspires. After talking about adding teen stories to the series, 20 or more hands went up wanting to have portraits done.

You see, these girls are children and Black Canyon is the end of the line. It's the place they arrive after the counties are through with them; the place they stay before the "big time." These are the ones from the entire state of Arizona. I looked into these young faces, some 13 years old, and found it hard to see they were already mothers, drug addicts, gang members, and murderers. They are hardened as much as a kids can be after suffering rapes, domestic abuse, street life, and neglect, but for a short period of time, they were simply giggly kids eager to learn and participate in activities that provided hope and inspiration.

Maybe today, as a new day with strict rules, schedules and the normal drull, we left them with a message that they are not worthless troublemakers, there are people out there to turn to for help, and they can overcome.

I can only hope that events like TBTN can continue because this is the kind of experience these girls need. Funny how we hope for them to have hope for themselves. Hope is a great thing, but action makes all the difference.

Take Back the Night